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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "microsoft mega jackpot lottery" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447011137259 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. MOORE WATCOOT" <beplc@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <directivesdavidben@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 21:15:00 -0400
Subject: REF NO: M154S/WL07



MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERYUNITED KINGDOM. LONDON.MICROSOFT HOUSE, LONDON.Director: MR. Donald NewtonREF NO: M154S/WL07.MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 8465207
Today, we announce the 10th lucky winners of the MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 1ST OF November,2007. Your company or your personal e-mail address, attached to the Chip Number: 8465207,won in the sixth lottery category 2007. Your email address has brought you an unexpected luck, please read through this message.
You are therefore been approved for lump sums pay out of £5,500,000.00, FIVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS.In cash Credited to file REF NO: M154S/WL07. And MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 8465207, you are the sixth lucky winner of the total winners of 10. You all have won £5.5, million Pounds each.
All the 10 participants were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot system (MCBS) drawn from each continent, as part of International \\\"E-MAIL\\\" Promotions Program, to promote the use of ELECTRONIC MAILS (E-MAILS) all over the World, and to promote the use of Microsoft Office. Your funds (certified Cashiers cheque) have been insured with the FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, LONDON, With your REF NO: M154S/WL07. To claim your winning prize (£5.5, million pounds), you must first, contact the claims department by email for Processing and remittance of your prize money to you. The claims processor is:
Name : Mr. David BenE-mail : directivesdavidben@hotmail.comPhone #: +447011137259Do email the above email address, at once with all the claims requirements. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.
NOTE : Your winnings can only be claimed through a swift bank transfer.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam